National Rum Day: Recommendations

Rum is a byproduct of molasses production. It is the third most popular spirit in the United States today. It originated in Papua New Guinea and is accompanied beautifully with coconut.

Papas Pilar

Papas Pilar is a Hemingway Rum Company brand. Hemingway is located in Florida and is a member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. Their rums are award-winning spirits which are selected by hand from ports-of-call in the Caribbean, Central America and Florida. Their most recent announcement is the newly opened Key West Distillery & Experience Center.

Received:

• (1) Wooden Shipping Box 
• (1) 100ml Blonde Rum 7 (84 Proof) 
• (1) 100ml Dark Rum 24 (86 Proof)

Recipe:

The Hemingway

1.5oz Papa's Pilar Blonde Rum
.75oz fresh lime juice
.5oz fresh grapefruit juice
1tsp maraschino liqueur
1tsp sugar (Papa went without)

Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with grapefruit.

Wilderness Trail Distillery

Harvest Rum has the distinction of being the only 100% Kentucky Rum. This award-winning spirit is classified as a US Gold Rum and is slightly aged for several months in used Kentucky Bourbon barrels. This is why it has a sweet finish.

The nose is slightly sweet and a little spicy. It is easily sipped neat. It's also exceedingly smooth.

Received:

 (1) 375ml Harvest Rum (90 Proof)
(1) Small Wilderness Trail Pin/Button

Recipe:

Summer Harvest

1 Part Harvest Rum
1 Part Frozen Concentrated Lemonade
1 Part Pulp Free Orange Juice
2 Parts Spring Water

Mix in 2 parts Spring water, 1 part each of remaining ingredients using lemonade container as measuring cup. For a frozen drink, substitute ice for the water and throw it in the blender.

Vital Links: National Rum Day Papas Pilar Wilderness Trail Distillery

Skincare Hacks For Saying Goodbye To Blemishes For Good

Blemishes, are they the bane of your life? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. At one point or another, blemishes will impact almost every gal’s skin. Often the cause is hormones; sometimes it’s too much of the sweet stuff, other times it’s down to a problem with your skin’s PH balance. The fact is, blemishes crop up for all manner of reasons. While you may not always know the reason why your skin is acting up, there are some simple steps that you can take to limit the damage and get your skin looking good again. Here’s how you can make blemishes (and breakouts) a thing of the past:

Go natural

Natural skincare and beauty products may cost more, but did you know that the chemicals in many non-natural products can be hugely damaging to your skin? Often, the culprit of blemishes that aren’t linked to hormones or diet is the products you are using on your face because these products are too harsh. To prevent blemishes from occurring, swap to using natural products - your skin will thank you for it. The best natural skincare and beauty brands include Lush, Say Yes To Carrots, Organic and Botanic, and Puriskin.

Steam your face

If you have ever been to a sauna, then the chances are you’ve experienced the amazing skin that comes after half an hour or so surrounded by steam. The steam opens your pores and cleanses them, reducing the visibility of blackheads, while helping to prevent breakouts. You may not be able to go to a sauna every day, but you can use an at-home steamer, like the ones on getprettyface, for example. Just a few minutes sat in front of a skin steamer, can make a big difference to the health of your skin.

Cleanse, cleanse, cleanse

How often do you cleanse your skin? The answer should be twice a day. To remove dirt, oil and general grime that has built up on your skin over time, cleansing each morning and evening is vital. Before you cleanse your skin, place a flannel that has been soaked in hot water over your face, this will open up your pores and make cleansing more effective. Once you’ve finished your cleansing routine, make sure to close your pores with a splash of cold water.

Exfoliate (gently)

A lot of people make the mistake of exfoliating their skin too often and scrubbing too hard. As a rule of thumb, your skin only needs exfoliating once or twice a week, and no more than that. This will remove dead and dry skin cells, helping to prevent clogged pores and breakouts. Use an exfoliating scrub that is natural and gentle. Don’t over scrub, simply move the product around your face with soft, circular movements.

Steer clear of oil-based products

Oil-based products can cause the skin to become too oily, clogging the pores and causing blackheads or acne to appear. To reduce your chance of these, always opt to use oil-free products, from cleanser and toner to face cream. To learn more about reasons to avoid oil-based products, use resources like rd.com.

Want to say goodbye to blemishes for good? Then take note of the skincare hacks above and implement them in your skincare routine.

#Promotion

Brushing Up Your Hair-Care Routine

In trying to keep our hair looking good, many of us may actually be having the adverse effect. This is because many common hair-care methods can do damage in the long run. By brushing up on your hair treatment methods, you could end up having healthier locks for longer. Here are just a few tips for maintain a healthy mane of hair.

Hair Woman via Pixabay

Don’t over wash your hair

Unless you have a very oily scalp or thin hair, you could be doing damage by washing every day. This is because washing our hair gets rids of not just dirt and grease but an important oil called sebum which helps stop our hair from drying out. By washing every day, you could be making your hair more dry and brittle. Try washing every other day or even leaving a few days if you don’t think your hair is likely to get dirty.

Perk up your hair with protein

Proteins such as keratin are important for keeping our hair shiny and durable. There are plenty of products containing these proteins which can be learned about on sites such as beautyambition. Some people have even taken to natural method such as washing their hair with egg yolk. You can also help your hair by eating foods with amino acids in that help to build keratin in our bodies. These include eggs, meats, onions, kale and asparagus.

Let your hair dry naturally sometimes

The healthiest way to let hair dry is to let it dry naturally in the air. Heat from blow-drying your hair can cause damage to the follicles, whilst rubbing with a towel can be damaging to the roots. Washing your hair in the evening and letting it dry overnight may be the most convenient way of doing this. If you really need to dry your hair quickly, then there are ways that you can minimize damage from a hairdryer as detailed at Schwarzkopf. With a towel meanwhile, you can minimize damage by dabbing rather than rubbing.

Comb wet, brush dry

You should always comb your hair when wet and brush when dry. Combing dry hair may result in more knots and tugging which could damage your hair and cause split ends. Comb and brush upwards to reduce tugging. Remember to clean your comb and brush – these implements can become breeding grounds for bacteria, which you’ll then be putting back into your hair.

Don’t dye your hair to death

Hair dyes are full of chemicals. These won’t have any lasting damage if you use them irregularly. However, for those that keep topping up their hair with dye, they could be doing permanent damage to their hair, perhaps even causing hair loss in the long run. Overuse of hair dye has also been linked to other more serious ailments such as allergy development, infertility and even cancer. Don’t dye your hair every week. Similarly always look at packaging to determine how long they recommend leaving hair dye in and don’t extend this period. The likes of SimplyNatural have lots of organic dyes to choose from that could be a safer option. #Promotion

Zhena's Gypsy Tea Giveaway for Afternoon Tea Week

Zhena's Gypsy Tea is a company with a commitment to social responsibility, sustainability and the well-being of others. The company began with a small following and grew with an ardent fervor. It's their support of Fair Trade, it's the cultivation and hand processing of tea artisans. It's the taste of their products.

Thank you Zhena's!

Received:

• (1) Chai Tea Stackable 1.12 Oz SRP $8.99
• (1) Coconut Matcha 1.54 Oz SRP $6.99
• (1) Vanilla Spice 1.54 Oz SRP $6.99
• (1) Variety Tea Stackable 1.12 Oz SRP $8.99

Chai Tea Stackable

Chai is just good for the soul. It has anti-aging qualities and a sweet, spiciness that we just adore. This package has four tins (four sachets per tin), comprised of the following;

• Chocolate Chai 
• Coconut Chai 
• Caramel Chai 
• Hazelnut Chai

Coconut Matcha

This is a delightful marriage of premium matcha and green tea with hints of coconut. We specifically asked for this one as our senior reviewer is a foodie with a penchant for matcha. She loves this! Seriously, went kinda nuts about it. Just sayin'.

Vanilla Spice

This organic blend of superior South African Rooibos and Honey Bush is free of caffeine. It is accented with sweet Madagascar vanilla beans and ginger. The finish consists of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

Variety Tea Stackable

This is a package of four of Zhena's favorites. The package includes Raspberry Earl Black Tea, Egyptian Mint Green Tea, Ambrosia Plum White Tea and Italian Chamomie Herbal Tea. Yes, four tins per package.

You may purchase your Zhena teas from the web site listed below. Go ahead. Gift yourself.

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